So, having done the Lush thing, I headed out to Valencia Street and picked up a whole pile of books I wanted to buy: Little Brother, Lavinia, The Hidden World – you know the sort of stuff. But I had entirely forgotten that there was a reading due that afternoon. And that is how I made the acquaintance of Jeff Carlson. Now I’ve seen a fair few readings in my time, but I think this is the first time I have ever seen a writer on a signing tour just stand up and talking about writing and publishing for an hour or so, and be thoroughly entertaining. Jeff has a motormouth to rival that of Mr. Scalzi (though his blog is not yet in the same class). What’s more he lives in Walnut Creek. I pointed out to him that he ought to pop along to BASFA once in a while. I think he’d be very popular.

While I was in the shop I happened to notice a movie novelization and put two and two together. The forthcoming film, Babylon AD, is actually based on Babylon Babies by Maurice Dantec. Why is this important? Well, for two reasons. Firstly because the arch-cynic of movie reviewing, Lucius Shepard, thinks that the film has promise, despite the fact that it stars Vin Diesel. And secondly because the film is out this month, which makes it Hugo-eligible in Montreal. And M. Dantec makes his home in Canada these days because (apparently) he has had a falling out with France. Indeed, if the film is true to the book then much of the action will take place in Canada. Interesting.

Also while there I hooked up with the newly arrived Nick Mamatas (who is apparently in the Bay Area to do awesome things with some Japanese folks) and Alethea Kontis, and after the reading we headed off to SF in SF. Time for another post.